Chennai Traffic-Will it be Published?

This is my letter to The Hindu I sent today. Whether they publish it or not, I have published it: )

Sir

It is nothing new for our people to jump over poodles, evade pestering vendors, avoid being electrocuted by exposed wirings, etc. Added to the list is haphazard parking because of too many vehicles, carrying too few people, looking for space which is scarce! It is so easy to get the cars with ever willing banks lending a hand, literally. This parking menace is not only affecting people in shopping areas but also in residential areas. Already people are forced to walk on road because of lack of pavements, which, if they exist are taken over by casual labourers or cars, once again. The parked cars on roads, not only reduce the width of the roads but also force the people to walk in the middle of the road which is already treated as disputed area by motorists. Now with the introduction of nano cars it is possible that the problem will be further compounded. So everyone may finally end up walking as there will be no space to drive! It is high time that the authorities demand for the 'availability of parking space within the premises' certificate. Or the government can charge a hefty sum as parking fee from those people who use the public space as parking area. At least this will force people to realise that the 'roads are not their ancestors' property' as the old adage goes!

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Chennai Traffic-Autocratic autos

But are they really autocratic or it is just that the users are submissive? This question always arises seeing the behavior of both. Mechanical meter, Digital meter or No meter no questions asked as the meters are only used as hanger by the driver for his uniform. No questions on meter, no questions on rate, no questions on breaking of traffic rules, no questions on illegal parking. It is rather the questioner is questioned 'do you know the difficulty of getting license, the cost of petrol(even for a diesel auto), daily rent, mamool for the police on beat, ...?' So rather than the cost of living factor(which is higher in Bangalore with better autos) it seems the clout the auto drivers enjoy because of the clout they have with the politicians, dons, police, etc., decide the fate of the general public.

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